The reforms process has unleashed forces that are truly gigantic. Whether these forces will ultimately bring about prosperity to the vast millions,only time will tell. There is no doubt that it will bring a lot of pain and suffering to millions of people and specifically those forming the votebanks. Mr Manmohan Singh began unshackling the economy from stifling administrative controls.The market forces have wrought changes which cannot be reversed. Neither the Bureaucracy, nor the Political parties have shown the will or even the inclination to control these forces.That the fall out may turnout to be disastrous for millions does not seem to bother them. The farmers suicides happening regularly is one sign. The cult of indebtedness on a massive scale is being promoted on a largely unsuspecting population. The SEZ has been the latest face of the market reform and is proceeding at a frenetic pace and all political parties want to exploit it. But this time round the political parties have to face those very votebanks that they have cultivated for their survival. Rightly or wrongly the very same Mr Manmohan Singh who had been lionised for his bold initiatives will have to face the wrath of a backlash. There is no doubt that there will be a backlash and the canny politicians are only preparing an escape route by making the PM responsible for the Punjab elections. The PM will also play along as the outcome of the Punjab poll is inconsequential as far as he is concerned.
